Protocolled Redefinition of the Therapeutic Range for Unfractionated Heparin: Lost in Translation?

ABSTRACT:

Background

Protocolled treatment with unfractionated heparin (UFH) is a subject of ongoing debate. Even though international guidelines prescribe calibration of the activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) to 0.3 to 0.7 U/mL anti-Xa activity to establish an UFH therapeutic range, evidence for this approach remains scarce. In this study, we evaluated different strategies to delineate the UFH therapeutic range and analyzed the effects on patient therapeutic classification.

Methods

In 109 patient samples, the aPTT was measured with 2 different reagents, both of which used mechanical clot detection. The UFH therapeutic range was determined using 3 previously described methods: calibration of the aPTT to 0.3 to 0.7 U/mL anti-Xa activity, application of 1.5 to 2.5 times the co

SUBMITTER: Coene KLM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6714639 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature